Soccer stars turn out to Regent Park to mark 500 day countdown
As Toronto gears up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 beginning next June— the most watched sporting event in the world— Regent Park youth came together on Tuesday to celebrate the 500 day mark.
The City of Toronto organized soccer drills and friendly matches where local youth participants in the Regent Park neighbourhood had the chance to play alongside Canadian professional soccer players Dwayne De Roasario, Kembo Kibato and Steffen Yeates.
Toronto Community Housing took on Regent Park as social housing project in the early 2000s’, adding more rent-geared-to-income housing and slowly integrating market built homes, almost tripling the population. According to City data, 50% of population are 1st generation Canadians.
With expenses rising these days for youth sports, De Rosario says having access to free programs, especially in underserved communities, is critical.